Match Preview: Eastbourne Borough (A) - 18th April 2026

Photo courtesy of Fin Hall

By Josh Cole

The Stags, for the final time this season, hit the road in the Enterprise National League South as we travel to bottom-of-the-table, Eastbourne Borough!

Last time out, two wondergoals spearheaded Totton to victory at home against Bath City! CLICK HERE to read the match report.

EASTBOURNE BOROUGH – THEIR SEASON SO FAR:

To see how the table shapes up heading into the final two games of the season, CLICK HERE!

The 25/26 campaign started with a winless first month of August, with six games seeing two draws and four losses, one of which was away at AFC Totton back on the 30^th of August that ended 2-1.

Eastbourne’s run of bad league form continued into September, with more winless games one loss and two 0-0 draws at home. In this month the FA Cup started and Eastbourne got through the second qualifying round with ease, winning 4-0 against Epsom & Ewell and in the third qualifying round won away at Sholing.

The Sports started October with a league draw away at Ebbsfleet (2-2) and a loss to National League outfit Boreham Wood in the FA Cup, but finally on the 18^th of October, Eastbourne picked up their first league win, 0-1 away at Maidenhead. However, their other two league results in October were losses and to round off the month there was a penalty shootout win for ‘Borough’ against Chichester City in the Sussex Senior Cup.

In November, they had three games which all finished 1-2, Eastbourne was on the right side of the scoreline away at Enfield but on the wrong side at home to Dagenham and Weston-super-Mare. After a draw to Chippenham Town in the league, they had two cup games, a loss in the FA Trophy away at Dorking but a win in the Sussex senior cup against Haywards Heath. To end November, Eastbourne lost 7-0 away at Torquay but just a week later won 6-0 at home against Hampton & Richmond, crazy.

December saw five league games for Eastbourne, losing three against top teams such as Dorking (4-2), Chelmsford (1-2) and Worthing (0-3), but there were two away wins in Kent against Dover (2-5) and Tonbridge (3-4) which saw them score nine goals in those two combined.

2026 didn’t start as Eastbourne Borough would’ve hoped, going winless in January and drawing just one of the six league games played in the month, losing the other five.

This run was stopped by a win against Maidstone (3-1) but two losses after that against Weston-super-Mare and Chesham away killed any chance of finding momentum in their relegation tussle. They ended the month with two wins in three games, their one loss against Dorking at home and their two wins being at against Torquay (4-2) and Hampton & Richmond (1-2).

March started with a 5-0 win in the Sussex Senior Cup against Horsham YM but the rets of the month Eastbourne were winless again and with just one draw and four losses in those five games, it was a very steep hill to climb to stay in this division.

April so far has seen two losses and a draw, as well as a confirmed relegation to step three football despite being one point off the title last season.

LAST FIVE: EASTBOURNE BOROUGH

Vs Hemel Hempstead | Away | ENLS | Lost 3-1

Goalscorer: Quevin Castro 55’

Vs Tonbridge Angels | Home | ENLS | Drew 1-1

Goalscorer: Quevin Castro 59’

Vs Worthing | Away | ENLS | Lost 2-1

Goalscorer: Adam May 14’

Vs Bath City | Home | ENLS | Drew 2-2

Goalscorers: Jack Jebb 7’ & Will Armitage 90+4’

Vs Chippenham Town | Away | ENLS | Lost 5-2

Goalscorers: Lee Angol 43’ & Maxwell Mullins 82’

LAST FIVE: AFC TOTTON

Vs Bath City | Home | ENLS | Won 2-1

Goalscorers: Ash Clarke 4’ & Christie Ward 17’

Vs Dorking Wanderers | Home | ENLS | Won 2-1

Goalscorers: Alfie Merritt 57’ & Christie Ward 65’

Vs Chippenham Town | Away | ENLS | Lost 2-0

Vs Salisbury | Home | ENLS | Won 2-1

Goalscorers: Tony Lee 37’ & Christie Ward 74’

Vs Chelmsford City | Away | ENLS | Drew 1-1

Goalscorer: Luke Hallett 90+6’

COMPARING THE STATS (ALL COMPS):

OPPOSITION PLAYERS TO WATCH:

DEFENCE: DAN QUICK

Dan is a defender who joined Eastbourne Borough after his release from Crystal Palace in the summer of 2023.

He came through the ranks at Selhurst Park, and was virtually an ever-present in the heart of the defence as Palace Under 18’s narrowly missed out on the Premier League South title in 2020/21. Quick is a versatile defender that is capable of playing anywhere across the defence, and went on to feature in the defence for the Eagles’ Under-23s in 2021/22 and made 13 appearances, including a start against Portsmouth in the EFL Trophy.

His performances earned him an appearance off the bench against Manchester United in the 22/23 pre-season tour of Australia and Singapore. Known for his versatility and strong defensive capabilities, Quick is the one of the longest-serving players in the current squad, and even donned the captain’s armband in pre-season ahead of the 2025/26 campaign. Enjoyed a loan spell at Welling United towards the end of 2024/25.
 

MIDFIELD: ARTHUR GROUT

Arthur is another young player who has caught the eye in pre-season. The teenager has impressed in the middle of the park when given his opportunity and put pen to paper at The ReachTV Stadium this summer.

Another product of the successful talent pathway between Bexhill College and Eastbourne Borough.

He has scored three goals this season in 35 starts and has become a key player running the midfield.

ATTACK: QUEVIN CASTRO

Quevin is a powerful and dynamic attacking midfielder/forward currently playing for Eastbourne Borough, where he has made an immediate impact since joining during the 2025/26 season.

Castro began his football journey in the academy at Sporting CP before moving to England at a young age, continuing his development in non-league football with spells at Thetford Town, Mildenhall Town, Leiston, Bury Town and Norwich CBS, gaining valuable senior experience early in his career.

His performances earned him a move into the professional game with West Bromwich Albion in 2021, where he featured for the club’s development side and made his senior debut in cup competition. During his time with the Baggies, he gained further experience through loan spells with Burton Albion and Notts County, where he enjoyed a productive period, scoring four goals in 14 appearances in the National League.

Castro continued to build experience with spells at Gateshead and York City, before a loan move to King’s Lynn Town in 2024, where he added further National League minutes to his growing CV.

During the 2025/26 campaign, he featured for Chippenham Town before a stint with Cambridge City, where he contributed three goals in 18 appearances, continuing to showcase his attacking qualities.

Since joining Eastbourne, he has played in four games and scored three goals.

MATCH OFFICIALS:

Referee - Matthew Norton

Assistant Referee 1 - Demetri Anastasiou

Assistant Referee 2 - Ryan Chantrill-Smith

Fourth Official - Adrian Harris

GO STAGS